Cristiano Ronaldo, the forward for Al Nassr, emerged as the highest-paid athlete in 2023, earning a staggering $275 million, which is twice as much as Lionel Messi. Ronaldo topped Sportico’s list of the 100 Highest-Paid Athletes in the World, surpassing all other athletes.

Ronaldo’s income comprised $215 million from salary and an additional $60 million from endorsement deals, which include partnerships with prominent brands such as Nike, Herbalife, Armani, Tag Heuer, DAZN, PokerStars, and his own brand CR7.

On the other hand, Lionel Messi secured the third spot on the list with an income of $130 million, half of which came from his salary, while the rest was from endorsement contracts.

The competition between Ronaldo and Messi, not only on the field but also in terms of wealth, has been a significant aspect of their careers. Despite Messi’s numerous Ballon d’Or titles, Ronaldo can boast of greater wealth, as highlighted by the U.K.’s Daily Mail.

Other notable athletes on the list include Spanish golfer Jon Rahm in second place with $181 million, basketball stars LeBron James, Stephen Curry, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Kevin Durant, as well as American football star Patrick Mahomes. Footballers Kylian Mbappe and Neymar also made it to the top 10 with incomes of $125 million and $122 million, respectively.

In the world of motorsports, Max Verstappen topped the Formula One earnings with $75 million, followed by Lewis Hamilton at $62 million. Canelo Alvarez emerged as the highest-paid boxer, while Novak Djokovic led the earnings among tennis players.

Overall, the 100 highest-paid athletes collectively earned an estimated $5.4 billion in 2023, with a significant portion coming from salary and prize money, as well as endorsement deals. Notably, the list did not include any women athletes, although American tennis player Coco Gauff was the top-earning female athlete, earning $22.7 million.